Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 11
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
Other places this is found:
http://www.wiffy-dreamverse.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=486
Author's Note: Big thanks to Rebelrsr for betaing and letting me bounce ideas off them. ' ' indicates Buffy's demon. ( ) indicates human thoughts.
"Thankful? Sorry? Buffy lets deal with one thing at a time. I think this might work better if we're both sitting down." Receiving a nod from Buffy they both sat on the stools near the counter - not facing each other. Willow started things up again after a deep breath, "Ok, first things first, you don't need to feel sorry about Kennedy. I kno-"
Cutting her off Buffy sought to correct her, "No, Will. I killed her, I'm the one who drained-"
Holding up a hand to stall Buffy's self-incrimination, Willow tried to get her to see reason, "Buffy, it wasn't you. It was your demon. Even though she was out only for a short time I could tell the difference between you. She was cold and uncaring and did anything that would cause just the slightest bit of pain. You would never do that."
"But... but I wanted to hurt Kennedy..."
Again stopping Buffy, "You might have wanted to hurt her, but you never, never, would have acted on that, much less killed her. When it was just your demon here you really were dead, as in not able to affect the world, kind of dead."
"But-"
"No, no more buts. See resolve face?" Flashing Buffy her famous 'resolve face' got Buffy to smile a little, but she still wouldn't meet her friend's eyes. "This is settled. You didn't hurt Kennedy, so you're not the one to blame. It hurts but having you back makes things a little better. But why are you thankful?"
Buffy at last looked up at her friend's face. "Well it sorta occurred to me I didn't leave on the best of terms, after I killed the First. I did a lot of things I'm not proud of, a lot of things I have to make up for..." Buffy's voice just trailed off as did her eyes. It still appeared like she was focused on Willow but the red-head knew the vampire was looking through her-looking at memories. After a moment the slayer shook herself to clear the images from her mind. Seeing Willow's worried look she smiled faintly to try and reassure the witch. Picking up where she left off, "I have a lot of things I need to make up for, so I have you to thank for giving me another chance at fixing it all."
Making a gagging face at Buffy mentally, her demon groaned, 'Gah! All these cuddly feelings and talk of redemption is starting to make me throw up.'
Pointedly ignoring her demon, "But, Wills, why'd you really bring me back? I mean I know the prophecies and everything but... was there something... more?"
Breaking eye contact with her again the red-head looked at her hands, "Wh-what makes you think th-there's more?"
Buffy, too, dropped her eyes to study her hands, "I don't know. It's just... what I-my demon said... when you gave me back my soul. It just got me thinking."
"About what specifically? Because she kinda said a lot."
"What she said about you... and me. I think she might have been right."
"You're talking about the 'not work related' thing aren't you?" Getting a small nod from the vampire Willow took a deep breath. "She was right. I did bring you back for more than just the prophecy. I-I wanted to make things right between us, and I knew bringing you back probably wasn't the best way to go about it but I just couldn't go on without you. When I found out you were dead it felt so much worse than when Tara died. The only thing that kept me from going veiny Willow was the thought I could bring you back."
Knowing Willow was still dancing around the actual answer Buffy asked strait out, "But why? What's the real reason?" Buffy already had an idea what it was but she wanted to hear it from the red-head. She herself was trying to define the feeling that her demon had spoken of right before her soul was restored.
Shyly looking up at Buffy, "I want you with me..." realizing how that could be interpreted the witch tried to backtrack, which inevitably ended in Willow-babble, "In the nonlesbian kind of way wanting you... not that I wouldn't want you in that way it's just I don't know if you'd want me wanting you in that way and could you please just shut me up now so I don't embarrass my self anymore," Willow tried to hide her reddening face behind a curtain of hair.
Laughing at her friend Buffy reached out and put a hand under her chin, lifting her face so they could look in each others' eyes. "It's alright, Will. I think I finally know what my demon was talking about. If you really do have those kinds of feelings for me then maybe we should try exploring them... together."
Thinking Buffy would never even think about her in that way she went into auto response mode, "Thanks, ok... wait-what-huh? Explore? Together? You...you have feelings for me too?"
'Ya know, this is priceless. It takes a soulless vampire to get two friends of eight years to finally get the nerves to say that they love each other,' Buffy's demon said.
(Sadly, your right,) Buffy thought dryly. (Thank you.)
'Hey! Wait! I didn't do it for good reasons!'
Smiling at her demon internally Buffy answered Willow, "Well my demon said what I had always felt for you, even though I was completely blind to it. I know what being completely alone feels like, and I'm afraid that I might go back to not feeling at all. With you I know neither will ever happen."
"You're sure you want there to be an us?" Willow asked uncertainly.
Nodding her head slightly, "Yes. But we might go slowly. The girl-girl thing is different for me, but that's not really a problem. The problem is me just getting back and being a vampire..." Suddenly realizing that Willow would in-fact be dating a vampire she grew nervous, "You are alright with me being a vampire, right?"
Chuckling at Buffy's sudden fright Willow grabbed her right hand and held it between her own. "I've spent nearly the last eight years around one vampire or another, you being one won't make a difference at all. A-and the thing about going slow, I'm all for that, slow is good-it's...nice." Both looked at their clasped hands and smiled at one another.
*******
Xander quietly left the two to their conversation while he made his way to the living room. As soon as he was in the room Anya asked, "So, what was the private thing?"
"Something private," he answered simply.
"Oh, come on Xand, spill. You weren't trying to seduce them were you?" Faith goaded as she wiggled her eyebrows.
"He better not have. If he knows what's good for him, that is," Anya said pointedly.
"Hey! Hey! Faith, stop trying to get me in trouble. It wasn't that, Will and I just needed to talk to Buffy about... stuff."
Noticing Xander really didn't want to go into anything, Dawn thought of a way to get divert Faith. She hoped Xander would be able to deal with Anya on his own. Letting out a slightly exaggerated yawn she got up from the couch and moved away from Faith. Seeing Faith's eyes immediately go to her she stretched languidly. "I'm going to sleep. Who ever's down here last turn off the lights." With a small wink at Faith, Dawn made her way up the stairs.
Watching Dawn's rear-end go up the stairs and out of view got Faith moving again. "Ya-yeah, the squirt's got a good idea. Think I'll catch up on my z's too." With that, she left quickly.
"Um... anyone else think that was really strange?" Xander said while scratching the top of his head.
Spike looked up after lighting a cigarette, "What? That Faith could be tired or that the birds seem to be chasing each other?"
"The first one." After a moment Xander finally rethought what Spike had said and what it meant. "Wait, hang on a minute! You mean those two...?" Shock and confusion seemed to be radiated from the clueless Scooby.
"Oh, yeah. Didn't you know? They've only been winking and ogling each other for the past two weeks," Anya piped in.
"And I wasn't told this... why?"
"Well, we thought you knew," Anya said shrugging her shoulders.
*****
At the top of the stairs Dawn was desperately hoping Faith got her hints and was following her. She was really looking forward to having a little cuddling time with her favorite slayer because these past two days were really making things spin. Getting use to having Buffy around again was going to take a while. With her sister being a vampire as well, Dawn was just happy to have someone to talk with... and have the occasional smoochie with.
Just before reaching her door Dawn heard Faith's footfalls on the stairs and knew the raven-haired girl had gotten the message. Leaving the door open, Dawn went over to her dresser to pull out her pajamas when two arms snaked around her waist. Even without having heard her come in Dawn knew it was Faith behind her and pressed into her saying with a playfully scolding tone, "Faithy...you didn't close the door." Turning within the hug she lightly kissed the dark slayer on the lips. "Don't want to be caught, do we?"
Grunting slightly Faith just pulled Dawn closer for a deeper kiss. Breaking for breath she huskily whispered, "Let 'em look, not like anything they've never seen before."
"Ya, but I don't think Buffy has seen her little sister making out with her one-time enemy before." Seeing that got a reaction from Faith Dawn continued, "So if it's all the same to you I'd rather have the door shut and be away from prying eyes."
"You might be right with the B thing." Letting go of Dawn Faith went and popped her head outside the doorway looking both ways before shutting and locking it. Turning back to face Dawn she found her in just an overlarge t-shirt and panties. Smirking, Faith removed her own leather jacket, pants, and boots. "Someone looks like she wants to play a little." Still in her tank-top Faith pulled Dawn down onto the bed and just spooned her, Dawn's back to Faith's front... at first. Stealthily she got a hand under Dawn's shirt and placed it on her stomach and slowly moved it upwards.
"Faith..." She warned, putting a hand on Faith's.
"Aww, can't a girl even get a feel?" Faith pouted.
"Yes, but not in the house. We have no idea how well Buffy can hear so let's just be safe whenever she's around... until we've told her that is."
"Spoil sport." Faith settled for having a hand on her girl's stomach, and the two settled in to sleep.
"How do you think Buffy will react to us?" Dawn asked.
"I have no idea, D, but I'm sure she'll come around eventually. Probably not at first but we all know how stubborn she is. Plus it doesn't matter too much because this is your life, not hers."
Author's Note: Reviews please. ^.^